Casey Scorpions v Coburg

[KC from Casey 7,133]

CASEY SCORPIONS v COBURG TIGERS

Saturday 8th May

Casey Fields at 2:00 PM

CASEY SCORPIONS

Backs Macdonald Martin Panozza

Half backs Cheney Miller Morton

Centreline McNamara Nicholls Wall

Half forwards Jetta Watts McGough

Forwards Maric Newton Stockdale

Followers Spencer MacReadie Daniel Bell

Interchange (from) Fieldsend Gysberts Healey Smith Taylor Waite Wonaeamirri Wylie*

COBURG TIGERS

Backs Farmer McGuane Morgan

Half backs Connors Gourdis Kahlefeldt

Centreline A Collins Webberley White

Half forwards Nahas Post Hislop

Forwards Griffiths Morton Carnell

Followers Graham Thomson Piuselli

Interchange (from) Browne Clifton Contin Dennis Hicks Jordon McMahon Morris O'Rielly Rayson Roberts M Smith

* 23rd player

Congratulations to first year Scorpion Danny Nicholls and to acting captain James Wall on making the VFL squad shortlist for the VFL for the state league representative match against the WAFL at Leederville Oval on Saturday, May 22. The final travelling party of 23 will be named in the week before the game and the Victorians will be coached by North Ballarat's dual premiership coach Gerard FitzGerald.

RESERVES

CASEY SCORPIONS v COBURG TIGERS

Saturday 8th May

Casey Fields at 11:00 AM

CASEY SCORPIONS

Backs Riseley Leeds Burke

Half backs Lees Patti M Johnson

Centreline Blease Creed Weekes

Half forwards Tynan Simpson Sykes

Forwards Plummer Waite Smith

Followers Lillie Fieldsend Purdy

Interchange (from) David Bell Clay M Dowse B Jones Petropoulos L McDonald Woodhead

COBURG TIGERS

Backs Morris W Smith Jakobi

Half backs Fahey Bisetto Kandilakis

Centreline Lucin Cattapan M Ambrose

Half forwards Hicks Gestier Gilligan

Forwards Westhoff Lawton A Meroli

Followers Dahl Duhau Warren

Interchange (from) Akkus P Ambrose J Collins El Houli Fewster Gear Sardo Saville

[Jaded No More 68,975]

Frustrating to see how slow Blease's progress is. Still in the seconds.

The seniors though are surely going to win given the quality there. That backline is insane!

Great to see Morton back too. Not long till he's back in the side

[pringle 56]

Frustrating to see how slow Blease's progress is. Still in the seconds.

The seniors though are surely going to win given the quality there. That backline is insane!

Great to see Morton back too. Not long till he's back in the side

Regarding Blease, it doesn't really bother me how long he takes to crack the Casey 1's. Remember, he hasn't played a game since year 11 in the TAC cup. He just finished year 12 and has had a very limited pre-season. His body is just getting used to playing footy again and to do it against men in the ones may be a bit too difficult at the moment.

Also, I wouldn't count our chickens before they hatch against the Tigers this weekend. The Burgers are 1-3 and struggling just a bit, but they have been within a couple of goals in each of their losses so far. This includes a norrow loss against last year's premiers North Ballarat in round 1 where the Burgers were leading comfortably by 5 goals at half time only to give away their ascendency and lose it by just over a goal. And last weekend against a good quality Sandringham side they went down in a fighting performance by 8 points. They also beat one of the flag fancies in Box Hill on Anzac weekend (with Phil Cleary clearly showing how badly he has lost his marbles at the end of the game during the presentation ceremony).

The only game in which they were very poor was against Frankston in round 2, losing by 4 points (but coming back from 8 goals down 5 mins into the 3rd qtr to take the lead briefly 10 mins into the last qtr). Interestingly, this was the weekend that featured Cousins and his gang of banned merry men following the infamous Connors incident, as well as other players with AFL experience such as Nahas, Relton Roberts, Jake King et al. It didn't help Coburg that day to have a number of stars in the team against a stand-alone VFL side who were apparently going to struggle to beat ANY side all year. Sometimes having a star-studded team counts for little and in fact can hurt team performance as these players often haven't played together with the VFL and junior AFL players.

Personally I'm really looking forward to this game. Casey is a great place to watch footy and I don't usually get the chance to go there to watch our developing players. Also, last time I saw Coburg vs Casey was the VFL debut of one Jack Watts last year when he kicked that superb floater of a goal turning without hesitation onto his left foot near the boundary (and kicked 3 goals for the day). I'll keep an eye on all our boys and try to give a report if possible. I'm sure there will be many other Demonlanders there as well and I'd encourage everyone to turn up and experience some great VFL footy. The form of Cale Morton will be my prime concern, and looking forward to see if he shows that he will return to the senior side sooner rather than later. Also excited to see Wonna and Cheney.

[Jarka 767]

Frustrating to see how slow Blease's progress is. Still in the seconds.

The seniors though are surely going to win given the quality there. That backline is insane!

Great to see Morton back too. Not long till he's back in the side

Just to add to Pringle's good post, don't expect alot from Blease this whole season. This year is about getting him back to fitness, getting his footy nous back and most importantly getting his head right after a pretty serious injury. He needs to get his confidence back in his leg, it's going to be a slow process but I'm happy for him to improve gradually, we definitely don't want to push him too hard.

[Vagg 2,449]

Where's Strauss???

Also, see the Morton brothers will be crossing paths, too...

[MadAsHell 4,217]

Along with Strauss, anyone know what's going on with Fitzpatrick? He dominated the Casey 2's two weeks ago and he missed last week and now this week also. Anyone know if he's carrying anything serious?

[Guest Thomo]

Interesting to see that Watts is named af CHF. So far this season he has been named on the wing. I wonder if this is just a list or if there is a step up for him this week.

[keajai 0]

Along with Strauss, anyone know what's going on with Fitzpatrick? He dominated the Casey 2's two weeks ago and he missed last week and now this week also. Anyone know if he's carrying anything serious?

I believe Fitzpatrick is being monitored closely because he has chronic fatigue (apparantly A Lynch is mentoring him in this respect). He was at the Thursday training and was in his civies but moving freely.

[WonnaJurah 5]

Whats happening with D Grimes

[MadAsHell 4,217]

I believe Fitzpatrick is being monitored closely because he has chronic fatigue (apparantly A Lynch is mentoring him in this respect). He was at the Thursday training and was in his civies but moving freely.

Thanks for the update Keajai, I know I've said it a few times but I'm a really big fan of Fitzpatrick, watched him in a Casey 2nd's practice match earlier this year and he moves so well for a big man and is a great mark.

I know from experience (through my mother) just how debilitating chronic fatigue sydrome is so I really hope this kid can work through it. If he can I think he could be something really special and that missing link (tall forward/2 ruckman) that Melbourne are after.

[pringle 56]

Whats happening with D Grimes

Dylan must be either sick or injured but I have been at all of the games he has played in the Coburg 2nds this year and don't recall him hurting himself in any of these. Could be something he did at training or a management issue. But I don't think he played last week either. Can't remember seeing him out there. Actually 99% sure he didn't, but stand to be corrected.

Anyway, for those who are interested, Dylan Grimes has been developing nicely in the Coburg 2nds. Is tallish but not a KPD size. Still a bit thin to make the transition up to VFL 1sts and not showing enough quite yet, but has a bit of potential. Certainly not near the ability of his older brother, but is a different type of footballer. Not flashy, but will do a job. I'd say he's a less than 50-50 chance of making AFL level, but he is a really good kid and looks like he works hard. Very quiet though and certainly still looks like he doesn't think he belongs yet.

[jayceebee31 768]

Regarding Blease, it doesn't really bother me how long he takes to crack the Casey 1's. Remember, he hasn't played a game since year 11 in the TAC cup. He just finished year 12 and has had a very limited pre-season. His body is just getting used to playing footy again and to do it against men in the ones may be a bit too difficult at the moment.

Also, I wouldn't count our chickens before they hatch against the Tigers this weekend. The Burgers are 1-3 and struggling just a bit, but they have been within a couple of goals in each of their losses so far. This includes a norrow loss against last year's premiers North Ballarat in round 1 where the Burgers were leading comfortably by 5 goals at half time only to give away their ascendency and lose it by just over a goal. And last weekend against a good quality Sandringham side they went down in a fighting performance by 8 points. They also beat one of the flag fancies in Box Hill on Anzac weekend (with Phil Cleary clearly showing how badly he has lost his marbles at the end of the game during the presentation ceremony).

The only game in which they were very poor was against Frankston in round 2, losing by 4 points (but coming back from 8 goals down 5 mins into the 3rd qtr to take the lead briefly 10 mins into the last qtr). Interestingly, this was the weekend that featured Cousins and his gang of banned merry men following the infamous Connors incident, as well as other players with AFL experience such as Nahas, Relton Roberts, Jake King et al. It didn't help Coburg that day to have a number of stars in the team against a stand-alone VFL side who were apparently going to struggle to beat ANY side all year. Sometimes having a star-studded team counts for little and in fact can hurt team performance as these players often haven't played together with the VFL and junior AFL players.

Personally I'm really looking forward to this game. Casey is a great place to watch footy and I don't usually get the chance to go there to watch our developing players. Also, last time I saw Coburg vs Casey was the VFL debut of one Jack Watts last year when he kicked that superb floater of a goal turning without hesitation onto his left foot near the boundary (and kicked 3 goals for the day). I'll keep an eye on all our boys and try to give a report if possible. I'm sure there will be many other Demonlanders there as well and I'd encourage everyone to turn up and experience some great VFL footy. The form of Cale Morton will be my prime concern, and looking forward to see if he shows that he will return to the senior side sooner rather than later. Also excited to see Wonna and Cheney.

Please note King is not playing- suspended I think

[jnrmac 20,276]

Frustrating to see how slow Blease's progress is. Still in the seconds.

The seniors though are surely going to win given the quality there. That backline is insane!

Great to see Morton back too. Not long till he's back in the side

Blease has played 1 game - let me repeat that ONE GAME - in nearly 2 years. He along with Watts were the two youngest players taken in the 2008 draft (we took young guns because GC17 got dibs on all the good 17yo's in 2009). Serious injury - remember Nathan Brown??? - needs plenty of time.

You may be frustrated but FFS be realistic about how long it takes to build footballers.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,299]

Frustrating to see how slow Blease's progress is. Still in the seconds.

Are you serious? The kid did not play a game last year and has not played four quarters Casey seconds football this year.

[Nasher 33,617]

Morton straight in to the seniors as I expected.

Belly's first game back? Edit: Seems he played in the twos last week.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,103]

Morton's Back! That makes this a good week regardless of how the results turn out.

I think I'll be heading on over to Casey Fields to have a look at these games tomorrow.

[QueenC 74]

I believe Fitzpatrick is being monitored closely because he has chronic fatigue (apparantly A Lynch is mentoring him in this respect). He was at the Thursday training and was in his civies but moving freely.

Speaking from experience that can make you completely and utterly useless.....

I don't know how bad he is, but the exhaustion I feel just getting out of bed (after 12 hours of sleep) is wretched.

And it is a very tough thing to get past. I have suffered from it for years. They must be very careful.

Hopefully he doesn't experience the same ongoing (read never ending) debilitating condition.

[pringle 56]

nearly Qtr time in reserves. Blease still yet to get onto the ground. Has just been warming up on the sides. Clearly being eased into things. Don't expect seniors for a while yet. 1.3.9 to 0.2.2 Casey lead.

[pringle 56]

3.4.22 to 2.2.14. Casey lead. Blease watch - yet to come on the ground.

[Daz's Dee's 113]

3.4.22 to 2.2.14. Casey lead. Blease watch - yet to come on the ground.

Great work mate i will be folowing demonland all day as i could not make it and am really interested on how our MFC boys go. Keep us updated if thats possible

[pringle 56]

4.6.30 to 3.3.21 Casey lead. Blease still not on. I assume playing a half only. Is definitely suited up so expect to see him in the 2nd half. 23 min mark.

[pringle 56]

Goal after the siren to Coburg sees Casey leading by 4 pts at qtr time. 4.7 to 4.3. Still no blease.

[KC from Casey 7,133]

Half Time in the reserves and the Casey seniors have been on the ground for a sighter. Aussie looks like he's bursting out of his skin to play.

[pringle 56]

Disappointing news. Blease not on the ground or bench this half. Weird. Was definitely warming up on the boundary line 1st qtr. Not seen since. Score now 6.7.43 to 6.3.39.

[pringle 56]

Nearly 3 qtr time. Casey 8.8.56 to Coburg 7.3.45.